Chickens Chickens Everywhere!

This was one of those : 'I have to have this!' sets - Art Impressions' 'Spring Chicken' set. I mean really...

And since I needed a birthday card....

These 2 images were perfect for a friend who always found chickens so hilariously quirky...

I opted for some really quick water colouring since I used regular cardstock I had to be careful, but it worked out. I did add some glossy product - an older one made by Plaid- to the balloon to give it shine a little bit of dimension.

For another friend I sent this card as I was looking forward to catching up with her over a cuppa. We don't see so much of each other since they moved out of town and I knew this would bring a smile to her face.

I gave this very cool chick some of the same clear gloss finish on her glasses...just because she's so cool

I Love You

Adorable skunks...what better way to say : 'I Love You' They are so cute and I think the black and white colours allow for really striking graphic images. And of course it pairs beautifully with bright red!

I started with a rather plain front cover...giving no indication of what may be inside...

and upon opening it - a panoramic center! It was a dull day so I turned on the flash for this picture. The other pictures suffered from poor lighting.
So adorable with the little one behind the word 'love' floating away hanging on to a balloon. I did consider adding clouds to the background, but in the end opted for a simple, uncomplicated surface seeing as there was already so much happening.
The large 'love' word was cut using a Silhouette cutter and the rest of the letters I hand cut after using an alpha stencil to trace the letters. Old school scrapbooking style!
The colouring is all coloured pencil.

I mean...just look at this face?!?! Cute just doesn't say it.

And just like that...I'm ready for Valentines...now I can concentrate on getting Christmas stuff done...

I'm submitting my loving skunks to the 'Everything Goes' Challenge over at the Art Impression blog. Come on over and join in! Edited to add : I'm delighted to have won 'Honorable Mention' with this card. Time for a happy dance!

The stamp set I used is called 'Love is in the Air' by Art Impressions

Colouring - Catching Up

I'm so far behind with posting here it isn't even 'funny'!

But here goes...maybe I can manage a few entries this month.

Let's start with colouring pages - This is from Millie Marotta's 'Beautiful Birds and Treetop Treasures'

These little dormice are so adorable. Sadly I messed up on the 'title' but will find a way to fix that.

And a couple of close-up's

I used a variety of pencils. Mostly of the harder variety. I like the way it works with the paper in this book.

Happy Anniversary

It's that time of year again - and it's been a good many years...

Since I needed an anniversary card and I wanted to take part in the Art Impressions 'Circle Element Challenge...I put the old thinking cap on...and decided to make a 'Seven Single' (vinyl record) the size of a CD.

I cut 2 CD sized circles from black card stock and one slightly smaller one from white card. After stamping everything and colouring the image (all from Perfect Duet - see below) with water soluble crayons, I joined the black circles at the top using a hinge cut from black card and then adhered the white circle over top of the hinge to cover it.

On the front of the card I drew light circles with graphite, using a compass, to create the impression of the grooves in vinyl records. I attached a heart shaped label with the 'song title' stamped on. A bit of ink blending around the edges finished the label off nicely.

And the open card.

Finally I used a CD sleeve as an envelope for my card!

Come play along with the Art Impressions Element Challenge

The Stamp Set I used is Perfect Duet (4999)

Jedediah Island

From a few years ago...well a dozen actually! I'm working on older year books. It is amazing how pictures can make sounds, smells and memories just flood right back in...

I used Cathy Krenek's Under The Sea Kit  for this. I wanted to keep it simple with the emphasis on the pictures. Of course I wanted to use ALL the yummy elements and goodies in there, so I had to make another LO so I could 'play' a bit more!

This one used a template from the template challenge over at GingerScraps. They have a fine selection of challenges and a free Collab every month for 10 challenges completed.

Here's a look at 'Under The Sea'

Love, Tea...

...and a good friend to share it with!

I was intrigued by the colour scheme for the current challenge over at Your Next Stamp. 

It is not a combination I would just randomly make up myself so I decided to give it a try.

I think it came together rather nicely. I used Distress inks and water colour pencils to colour the image which I then cut with an oval die and backed with a lacey piece die cut from black card stock.

I liked the sketch challenge too, so I ended up using both challenges for the card.

I also adding a few bright red details in the form of the red heart and sequins to tie it all together nicely.

The stamp set used is Love Birds by Your Next Stamp and the paper pack is by Recollections.

And of course I am entering it into the Your Next Stamp Challenge # 95

Relax and Chill - It's your birthday!

Aaaah this little dog image is just the 'coolest' I cannot help but chuckle when I look at it.

It is simply brilliant!

I found it in Art Impressions' 'Reel Great Guys' Set (4900)

I needed a summery birthday card for a male relative and decided this dog is perfect for it. I coloured him with watercolour pencils (by Derwent) and added Liquid Embossing (by Plaid) over the entire tube to make it shiny and slightly dimensional.

The dog really needed to have a relaxing time, so I decided he might like to be floating down a little river or canal...just enjoying the ride while chilling on the tube. To get enough water for him to float on I made my card 8.5" x 4"

I cut a slit using the Silhouette Cameo and proceeded to colour the water, muddy bank and grassy edge using Distress Oxide Inks. These inks allowed me to lift colour for waves and spots for bubbles and splashes. I enhanced those with a white gel pen. I also added a bit of coloured pencil details to the bank.

The sentiment is from the 'Lake House Tryfolds' set. I stamped it onto tan cardstock, embossed it and then added a little brown ink to bring out the woodgrain from the embossing. Cutting a slit into the card front allowed me to slip the stick through to the back and 'plant' the sign in the stream.

I trust the recipient will have no doubt as to how I expect him to spend his summer birthday!

I think I should make one of these as a decoration on the wall...I know I will get a chuckle from it every time I walk past...

I'm entering my card for the Art Impressions 'Summer Vibes' Challenge

Edited to add : the card won an Honorable Mention. How fun is that?!? Thank you!

Real Great Guys

Floral Birthday Wishes

Time for a summery fresh floral birthday set!

This delightful teacup is by SVG Cuts. I've made several of them over the years. They make wonderful little gift or treat holders. (HERE is another example)

The flowers are by Petaloo. I had bought a pack of the white ones years ago. Never cared for them, but they worked well for this project after I coloured them and added some fringe cut card stock for the centers. A few die cut leaves and swirls were all I needed to complete the little gift 'box'.

I like that the inside of the cup is also nicely finished off, so that it can be displayed empty. The papers were in a pack given me by a friend.

I filled a baggie with Lindt chocolate, tied it with a matching green ribbon and popped it inside white tissue paper and into the cup.

 

Time to add the card: I used scraps of the patterned paper and cardstock used for the cup and saucer.

I wanted the project to be bright, sunny and fresh and am very pleased with how it turned out.

The teacup is from the Tea For You and Me Collection by SVG Cuts (affiliate link)

The flowers - daisies - are from Stampendous - Cling Build a Bouquet Set

The doily details and pop up mechanism is also from Stampendous. I bought my set at Michaels.

Love Bird Tweet Hearts

This was one of those stamps sets that yelled 'BUY ME!' So I did and I know I will be using it quite a bit. It's over at Your Next Stamp

Then I saw the colour challenge over on the blog at Your Next Stamp and loved the colours...so I just had to combine the two and make a card.

I cut a circular window from card, rounded the corners before running it through the Cuttlebug in an embossing folder. I used Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink for a bit of colour. Next I popped the panel up on foam for a little dimension. The sentiment is stamped in black onto a strip of card stock and adhered flat onto the panel. This is going to be mailed out and I did not want to add too much dimension.

And here is a close-up of the adorable image of these little birds in the tea cup. I coloured it using water colour pencils.

I'm looking forward to creating many more fun cards with this set!